MULTI-ELECTRODE FLEXIBLE ELECTRIC MASK

Abstract

One subject of the invention is an article for cosmetic treatment of a body area with an electric current, comprising a support (50) comprising an electrode (1) and a counter electrode (2), said electrode and counter electrode being separated from one another by a space comprising an electrically insulating zone (3) made of a polymeric material.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An article for cosmetic treatment of a body area with an electric current, comprising: a support; and an electrode array disposed on the support, the electrode array comprising: an electrode disposed on the support; a counter electrode disposed on the support adjacent to the electrode; and an electrically insulating polymeric material disposed between the electrode and the counter electrode and configured to form an electrically insulating zone between the electrode and the counter electrode.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein: the electrode comprises a comb electrode; the counter electrode comprises a counter comb electrode; and teeth of the comb electrode are interlaced with teeth of the counter comb electrode.

16. The article of claim 14, wherein the polymeric material is configured to prevent diffusion of a cosmetic composition through the support, between the electrode and the counter electrode.

17. The article of claim 14, wherein the polymeric material defines a wall having a height that is at least equal to a thickness of the electrode and/or the couther electrode, taken in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the support.

18. The article of claim 14, wherein the polymeric material does not completely fill a space between the electrode and the counter electrode.

19. The article of claim 18, further comprising a cosmetic composition disposed in the space between the electrode and counter electrode.

20. The article of claim 14, wherein polymeric material has an electrical conductivity of less than about 10.sup.−6 S. m.sup.−1.

21. The article of claim 14, wherein the polymeric material has a relative permittivity of greater than about 1 when the article is dry.

22. The article of claim 14, wherein the polymeric material is selected from insulating thermoplastic polymers, insulating thermosetting polymers, insulating silicones, insulating thermoplastic elastomers, polyester-based or polyether-based insulating thermoplastic polyurethanes, and/or PVC-based insulating thermoplastic elastomers.

23. The article of claim 14, wherein: the article is divided into compartments; each of the compartment comprises an electrode array; and each of the electrode arrays is independently connected to a sequential current source.

24. The article of claim 23, further comprising at least one insulating zone configured to electrically insulate the compartments from one another.

25. The article of claim 23, wherein each of the electrode arrays is arranged in a serpentine pattern in each compartment.

26. The article of claim 14, further comprising a generator configured to apply a current between the electrode and counter electrode.

27. The articles of claim 26, wherein the generator is configured to selectively change a polarity of the current.

28. A cosmetic care or makeup method comprising: applying an article to skin, the article comprising: a support; and an electrode array disposed on the support, the electrode array comprising: an electrode disposed on the support; a counter electrode disposed on the support adjacent to the electrode; and an electrically insulating polymeric material disposed between the electrode and the counter electrode and configured to form an electrically insulating zone between the electrode and the counter electrode; and circulating an electric current though the electrode array while the article is applied to the skin to increase the penetration of a cosmetic active agent into the skin.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising loading the support with a cosmetic prior to applying the article to the skin.

30. A method of extracting impurities from the skin, the method comprising: applying an article to skin, the article comprising: a support; and an electrode array disposed on the support, the electrode array comprising: an electrode disposed on the support; a counter electrode disposed on the support adjacent to the electrode; and an electrically insulating polymeric material disposed between the electrode and the counter electrode and configured to form an electrically insulating zone between the electrode and the counter electrode; and circulating an electric current though the electrode array while the article is applied to the skin to remove impurities from the skin

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0185] The invention may be better understood from reading the following description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0186] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrode array according to the invention,

[0187] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of an exemplary embodiment of an article including electrode arrays according to the invention,

[0188] FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of a portion of the electrode array of FIG. 1 according to the invention.

[0189] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the actual relative proportions of the various elements have not always been respected, for the sake of clarity.

[0190] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the electrode array 100 comprises an electrode 1 and a counter electrode 2, said electrode 1 and counter electrode 2 being separated from one another by an electrically insulating zone 3 made of polymeric material.

[0191] The polymeric material may be a material selected from those listed in the table below.

TABLE-US-00002 Polymeric materials Commercial name Producer HDPE DOW ™ DOW LDPE Elite ® DOW Polypropylene Velvex ™ Styron Polybutadiene Arinte ® DSM PET Rynite ® DuPont Polystyrene Styrosolution ®PS Styrosolution ABS - acrylonitrile Sicoflex ® Ravago butadiene styrene terpolymer PMMA Altuglas ® PMMA Altuglas International-Arkema PVC S-58-02 Shin Etsu Silicones Tego ®RC Silicones Evonik Industries TPE Enflex ® Ravago TPU Irogran ® Huntsman Thermoplastic Hytrel ® DuPont polyester elastomer

[0192] The electrically insulating zone 3 does not entirely fill the space 4 between the electrode 1 and the counter electrode 3.

[0193] The electrically insulating zone forms a wall defined by:

[0194] a height h equal to the thickness e of the electrode and of the counter electrode,

[0195] a width L.sub.2 of less than the distance L.sub.1 between the electrode and the counter electrode.

[0196] a length l.sub.2 equal to the length l.sub.1 of the electrode and of the counter electrode.

[0197] If the support 50 is impregnated with a cosmetic composition, this composition may be accomodated between the electrically insulating zone 3 and the electrode 1 or the counter electrode 2.

[0198] If the cosmetic composition comprises positively charged active agents, the portion of the support 50 in contact with the positive electrode 1 pushes the active agent towards the skin. Then by reversing the polarity, the other portion of the support 50 is positively charged and so on and so forth. For a uniformity of treatment, it is possible to reverse the current from time to time (every minute for example). This type of support 50 may be used in order to form a patch. It may then be manufactured on a reel then cut to size.

[0199] The electrode 1 and the counter electrode 2 are spread out to form the array 100.

[0200] In the electrode array 100, the electrode 1 forms a first comb 32 comprising teeth lined up along a first direction. Three of the teeth of the comb 32 are denoted by 12, 16, 20. In the array 100 the counter electrode 2 forms a second comb 34 comprising teeth lined up along a second direction opposite to the first direction. Three of the teeth of the counter electrode are referenced by 14, 18, 22. The first comb 32 and the second comb 34 are arranged so that the teeth 12, 16, 20 of the first comb 32 and the teeth 14, 18, 22 of the second comb are alternately interlaced in pairs. The interlacing is carried out following a periodic array pitch.

[0201] The article represented in FIG. 2 is a mask 200 to be applied to the skin of the face.

[0202] The mask 200 comprises a support 50.

[0203] The mask 200 comprises three compartments 30, 35, and 40.

[0204] Each compartment comprises an electrode array 100 including an electrode 1 and a counter electrode 2 separated by an electrically insulating zone 3.

[0205] This electrically insulating zone 3 is additionally a leaktight and hermetic zone. It blocks the passage of the cosmetic composition.

[0206] The compartments 30, 35, and 40 are separated from one another by additional electrically insulating zones 23, 33, and 13.

[0207] This type of article may be used for a large treatment area. It is possible to program a current intensity adapted to each area of the face. These areas have neither the same sensitivity, nor the same tolerance.

[0208] The mask 200 is connected to a handle 202 by cables 71.

[0209] Found in the handle 202 are a current generator 204, control buttons 206, a battery 208, and a programmable switch 210. The latter makes it possible to power the cables 71 in a sequential or synchronised manner as necessary. The maximum total current may range up to 5 mA.

[0210] FIG. 3 represents a cross-section of a portion of the electrode array 100 of FIG. 1, which may be included in the mask 200. The array 100 includes an electrode 1 and a counter electrode 2. This mask 200 is applied to the skin 60. The electrode and the counter electrode are separated by an electrically insulating zone 3. This zone is created by double printing of an insulating barrier ink. Thus, the ink penetrates deeply into the fibres of the support 50. The barrier ink creates an electrically insulating zone 3. The electrically insulating zone 3 does not completely fill the spaces 4 between the electrode 1 and the counter electrode 2. These spaces 4 may be impregnated with a cosmetic composition.

[0211] In this case, the barrier ink prevents the conductive cosmetic composition from migrating into the thickness of the support 50.

[0212] An electrically insulating hermetic film 7 adheres to the support at the barrier ink. It is chosen so that the flexibility of the whole of the mask 200 is preserved. With the barrier ink, it delimits an electrically insulating zone 3 which moreover prevents the cosmetic composition from migrating from the electrode 1 to the counter electrode 2 by bypassing the barrier ink.

[0213] The electrically insulating zone 3 forms a wall defined by a height (h) equal to the thickness (e) of the electrode 1 and of the counter electrode 2.

[0214] Furthermore, the electrically insulating zone 3 generates good contact with the skin 60 by adhesion. A good electrical insulation between the electrodes 1 and 2 is ensured.

[0215] This method of manufacturing the mask as multiple layers also ensures a long-lasting moisture of the mask throughout the treatment time. It also improves the penetration performance of the cosmetic active agents through the two-fold mechanism of occlusion and iontophoresis.

[0216] The path of the printing of the barrier ink does not need to be very wide, from 2 mm to 5 mm is sufficient to create optimal insulation.

[0217] In order to use the mask presented in FIG. 3, the procedure is performed as follows.

[0218] The mask is placed on the face.

[0219] The user triggers the operation thereof via a control button.

[0220] The treatment time varies between 15 minutes and 1 hour, the limiting factor possibly being the battery operating time.

[0221] Once the treatment is finished, the mask is not reused but it could be reused some other way.

[0222] The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

[0223] The implementation characteristics of the examples illustrated may be combined together within variants that are not illustrated. The structure of the electrodes and the surface area that they occupy in each compartment may in particular be different. The nature of the support, and the number and the size of the compartments may be different. The same is true for the nature of the chemical compositions and the polarity of the electrodes.